The Answer to the Sages' Question

Verse 1 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.1)

सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्टं साधवो वस्त्रैलोक्यहितकारकम् । गुरुं स्मृत्वा भवत्स्नेहाद्वक्ष्ये तच्छृणुतादरात्

sūtauvāca sādhupṛṣṭaṁ sādhavo vastrailokyahitakārakam guruṁ smṛtvā bhavatsnehādvakṣye tacchṛṇutādarāt

Suta said: The virtuous have rightly asked a virtuous question, one that brings good to all three worlds. Remembering my guru, and out of affection for you, I shall now speak it — hear it with reverence.

Verse 2 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.2)

वेदान्तसारसर्वस्वं पुराणं चैवमुत्तमम् । सर्वाघौघोद्धारकरं परत्र परमार्थदम्

vedāṁtasārasarvasvaṁ purāṇaṁ śaivamuttamam sarvāghaughoddhārakaraṁ paratra paramārthadam

This supreme Shaiva Purana is the very essence of all Vedanta's wisdom, the deliverer from every mass of sin, and the giver of the highest good in the world beyond.

Verse 3 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.3)

कलिकल्मषविध्वंसि यस्मिञ्छिवयशः परम् । विजृम्भते सदा विप्राश्चतुर्वर्गफलप्रदम्

kalikalmaṣavidhvaṁsi yasmiñcchivayaśaḥ param vijṛmbhate sadā viprāścaturvargaphalapradam

In it Shiva's supreme glory ever unfolds; it destroys the sins of the Kali age, and continually grants the twice-born the fourfold fruit of dharma, artha, kama and moksha.

Verse 4 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.4)

तस्याध्ययनमात्रेण पुराणस्य द्विजोत्तमाः । सर्वोत्तमस्य शैवस्य ते यास्यन्ति सुसद्गतिम्

tasyādhyayanamātreṇa purāṇasya dvijottamāḥ sarvottamasya śaivasya te yāsyaṁti susadgatim

O foremost of brahmins, by the mere study of this Purana — the most exalted of all Shaiva scriptures — one attains the highest and most blessed state.

Verse 5 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.5)

तावद्विजृम्भते पापं ब्रह्महत्यापुरस्सरम् । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

tāvadvijṛṁbhate pāpaṁ brahmahatyāpurassaram yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati jagatyaho

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen in this world, sin — led by the sin of killing a brahmin — goes on increasing.

Verse 6 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.6)

तावत्कलिमहोत्पाताः सञ्चरिष्यन्ति निर्भयाः । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

tāvatkalimahotpātāḥ saṁcariṣyaṁti nirbhayāḥ yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati jagatyaho

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen in this world, the terrible calamities of the Kali age roam about unchecked.

Verse 7 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.7)

तावत्सर्वाणि शास्त्राणि विवदन्ते परस्परम् । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

tāvatsarvāṇi śāstrāṇi vivadaṁti parasparam yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati jagatyaho

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen in this world, all the scriptures go on disputing with one another.

Verse 8 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.8)

तावत्स्वरूपं दुर्बोधं शिवस्य महतामपि । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

tāvatsvarūpaṁ durbodhaṁ śivasya mahatāmapi yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi no deṣyati jagatyaho

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen in this world, even great souls find Shiva's true nature hard to grasp.

Verse 9 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.9)

तावद्यमभटाः क्रूराः सञ्चरिष्यन्ति निर्भयाः । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

tāvadyamabhaṭāḥ krūrāḥ saṁcariṣyaṁti nirbhayāḥ yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati jagatyaho

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen in this world, the cruel messengers of Yama roam about unchecked.

Verse 10 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.10)

तावत्सर्वपुराणानि प्रगर्जन्ति महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

tāvatsarvapurāṇāni pragarjaṁti mahītale yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati jagatyaho

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen in this world, all the other Puranas go on proclaiming their own supremacy over the earth.

Verse 11 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.11)

तावत्सर्वाणि तीर्थानि विवदन्ते महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति जगत्यहो

tāvatsarvāṇi tīrthāni vivadaṁti mahītale yāvachivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati jagatyaho

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen in this world, all the holy places go on disputing among themselves upon the earth.

Verse 12 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.12)

तावत्सर्वे मुदा मन्त्रा विवदन्ते महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

tāvatsarvāṇi maṁtrāṇi vivadaṁti mahītale yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati mahītale

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen upon the earth, all mantras go on disputing among themselves.

Verse 13 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.13)

तावत्सर्वाणि क्षेत्राणि विवदन्ते महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

tāvatsarvāṇi kṣetrāṇi vivadaṁti mahītale yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati mahītale

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen upon the earth, all sacred fields go on disputing among themselves.

Verse 14 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.14)

तावत्सर्वाणि पीठानि विवदन्ते महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

tāvatsarvāṇi pīṭhāni vivadaṁti mahītale yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati mahītale

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen upon the earth, all seats of divine power go on disputing among themselves.

Verse 15 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.15)

तावत्सर्वाणि दानानि विवदन्ते महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

tāvatsarvāṇi dānāni vivadaṁti mahītale yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati mahītale

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen upon the earth, all forms of charity go on disputing among themselves.

Verse 16 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.16)

तावत्सर्वे च ते देवा विवदन्ते महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

tāvatsarve ca te devā vivadaṁti mahītale yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati mahītale

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen upon the earth, all the gods go on disputing among themselves.

Verse 17 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.17)

तावत्सर्वे च सिद्धान्ता विवदन्ते महीतले । यावच्छिवपुराणं हि नोदेष्यति महीतले

tāvatsarve ca siddhāntā vivadaṁti mahītale yāvacchivapurāṇaṁ hi nodeṣyati mahītale

So long as the Shiva Purana has not yet risen upon the earth, all doctrines go on disputing among themselves.

Verse 18 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.18)

अस्य शैवपुराणस्य कीर्तनश्रवणाद् द्विजाः । फलं वक्तुं न शक्नोमि कार्त्स्न्येन मुनिसत्तमाः

asya śaivapurāṇasya kīrtanaśravaṇāddvijāḥ phalaṁ vaktuṁ na śaknomi kārtsnyena munisattamāḥ

O foremost among sages, I am not able to describe in full the fruit that comes from the recitation and hearing of this Shaiva Purana.

Verse 19 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.19)

तथापि तस्य माहात्म्यं वक्ष्ये किञ्चित्तु वोऽनघाः । चित्तमाधाय शृणुत व्यासेनोक्तं पुरा मम

tathāpi tasya māhātmyaṁ vakṣye kiṁcittu vonaghāḥ cittamādhāya śṛṇuta vyāsenoktaṁ purā mama

Yet, O sinless sages, I shall speak something of its greatness; fix your minds and listen to what Vyasa once told me.

Verse 20 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.20)

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि श्लोकं श्लोकार्धमेव च । यः पठेद्भक्तिसंयुक्तः स पापान्मुच्यते क्षणात्

etacchivapurāṇaṁ hi ślokaṁ ślokārdhameva ca yaḥ paṭhedbhaktisaṁyuktassa pāpānmucyate kṣaṇāt

Whoever, with devotion, recites even a single verse of this Shiva Purana — or even half a verse — is instantly freed from sin.

Verse 21 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.21)

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि यः प्रत्यहमतन्द्रितः । यथाशक्ति पठेद् भक्त्या स जीवन्मुक्त उच्यते

etacchivapurāṇaṁ hi yaḥ pratyahamataṁdritaḥ yathāśakti paṭhedbhaktyā sa jīvanmukta ucyate

Whoever, untiring and unfailing, recites this Shiva Purana each day with devotion, according to his capacity, is said to attain liberation while yet living.

Verse 22 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.22)

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि यो भक्त्यार्चयते सदा । दिने दिनेऽश्वमेधस्य फलं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम्

etacchivapurāṇaṁ hi yo bhaktyārcayate sadā dine dine 'śvamedhasya phalaṁ prāpnotyasaṁśayam

Whoever, with devotion, ever worships this Shiva Purana obtains, without doubt, the fruit of an ashvamedha sacrifice every single day.

Verse 23 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.23)

एतच्छिवपुराणं यः साधारणपदेच्छया । अन्यतः शृणुयात् सोऽपि मत्तो मुच्येत पातकात्

etacchivapurāṇaṁ yassādhāraṇapadecchayā anyataḥ śṛṇuyātso 'pi matto mucyeta pātakāt

Whoever hears this Shiva Purana even from another source, out of mere ordinary regard, is likewise freed from sin — freed even from offence against me.

Verse 24 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.24)

एतच्छिवपुराणं यो नमस्कुर्याददूरतः । सर्वदेवार्चनफलं स प्राप्नोति न संशयः

etacchivapurāṇaṁ yo namaskuryādadūrataḥ sarvadevārcanaphalaṁ sa prāpnoti na saṁśayaḥ

Whoever, even from a distance, bows to this Shiva Purana obtains, without doubt, the fruit of the worship of every god.

Verse 25 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.25)

एतच्छिवपुराणं वै लिखित्वा पुस्तकं स्वयम् । यो दद्याच्छिवभक्तेभ्यस्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु

etacchivapurāṇaṁ vai likhitvā pustakaṁ svayam yo dadyācchivabhaktebhyastasya puṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

Whoever writes out this Shiva Purana with his own hand and gives the book to devotees of Shiva — hear now what merit accrues to him.

Verse 26 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.26)

अधीतेषु च शास्त्रेषु वेदेषु व्याकृतेषु च । यत्फलं दुर्लभं लोके तत्फलं तस्य सम्भवेत्

adhīteṣu ca śāstreṣu vedeṣu vyākṛteṣu ca yatphalaṁ durlabhaṁ loke tatphalaṁ tasya saṁbhavet

The fruit that is hard to obtain in this world even from the study of the scriptures and the exposition of the Vedas — that same fruit comes to him.

Verse 27 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.27)

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि चतुर्दश्यामुपोषितः । शिवभक्तसभायां यो व्याकरोति स उत्तमः

etacchivapurāṇaṁ hi caturdaśyāmupoṣitaḥ śivabhaktasabhāyāṁ yo vyākaroti sa uttamaḥ

Whoever, keeping a fast on the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight, expounds this Shiva Purana in an assembly of Shiva's devotees, is himself the noblest of men.

Verse 28 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.28)

प्रत्यक्षरं तु गायत्रीपुरश्चर्याफलं लभेत् । इह भुक्त्वाखिलान् कामानन्ते निर्वाणतां व्रजेत्

pratyakṣaraṁ tu gāyatrīpuraścaryāphalaṁ labhet iha bhuktvākhilānkāmānaṁte nirvāṇatāṁ vrajet

For every syllable he gains the fruit of a gayatri-purashcharana; here he enjoys every desire, and in the end attains liberation.

Verse 29 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.29)

उपोषितश्चतुर्दश्यां रात्रौ जागरणान्वितः । यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि तस्य पुण्यं वदाम्यहम्

upoṣitaścaturdaśyāṁ rātrau jāgaraṇānvitaḥ yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi tasya puṇyaṁ vadāmyaham

Whoever, keeping a fast on the fourteenth and keeping vigil through the night, reads or hears this Purana — I shall now tell his merit.

Verse 30 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.30)

कुरुक्षेत्रादिनिखिलपुण्यतीर्थेष्वनेकशः । आत्मतुल्यधनं सूर्यग्रहणे सर्वतोमुखे

kurukṣetrādinikhilapuṇyatīrtheṣvanekaśaḥ ātmatulyadhanaṁ sūryagrahaṇe sarvatomukhe

the merit of giving, in every direction, one's own weight in gold at all the holy fords beginning with Kurukshetra, during a solar eclipse,

Verse 31 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.31)

विप्रेभ्यो व्यासमुख्येभ्यो दत्त्वा यत्फलमश्नुते । तत्फलं सम्भवेत्तस्य सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः

viprebhyo vyāsamukhyebhyo dattvāyatphalamaśnute tatphalaṁ saṁbhavettasya satyaṁ satyaṁ na saṁśayaḥ

given to brahmins headed by Vyasa — that very fruit truly comes to him: this is true, this is true, there is no doubt in it.

Verse 32 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.32)

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि गायते योऽप्यहर्निशम् । आज्ञां तस्य प्रतीक्षेरन् देवा इन्द्रपुरोगमाः

etacchivapurāṇaṁ hi gāyate yopyaharniśam ājñāṁ tasya pratīkṣerandavā indrapurogamāḥ

Whoever sings this Shiva Purana day and night — even Indra and the other gods wait upon his command.

Verse 33 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.33)

एतच्छिवपुराणं यः पठञ्छृण्वन् हि नित्यशः । यद्यत् करोति सत्कर्म तत्कोटिगुणितं भवेत्

etacchivapurāṇaṁ yaḥ paṭhañchṛṇvanhi nityaśaḥ yadyatkaroti satkarma tatkoṭiguṇitaṁ bhavet

Whoever constantly reads or hears this Shiva Purana — whatever good deed he then performs becomes a million times more fruitful.

Verse 34 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.34)

समाहितः पठेद्यस्तु तत्र श्रीरुद्रसंहिताम् । स ब्रह्मघ्नोऽपि पूतात्मा त्रिभिरेव दिनैर्भवेत्

samāhitaḥ paṭhedyastu tatra śrīrudrasaṁhitām sa brahmaghno 'pi pūtātmā tribhireva dinairbhavet

He who reads the Rudra Samhita within it, with a focused mind, becomes pure of soul within three days alone, even if he were a slayer of a brahmin.

Verse 35 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.35)

तां रुद्रसंहितां यस्तु भैरवप्रतिमान्तिके । त्रिः पठेत्प्रत्यहं मौनी स कामानखिलाँल्लभेत्

tāṁ rudrasaṁhitāṁ yastu bhairavapratimāṁtike triḥ paṭhetpratyahaṁ maunī sa kāmānakhilāṁllabhet

Whoever, keeping silence, reads that Rudra Samhita three times daily near an image of Bhairava obtains every desire of his heart.

Verse 36 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.36)

तां रुद्रसंहितां यस्तु सम्पठेद् वटबिल्वयोः । प्रदक्षिणां प्रकुर्वाणो ब्रह्महत्या निवर्तते

tāṁ rudrasaṁhitāṁ yastu sapaṭhedvaṭabilvayoḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ prakurvāṇo brahmahatyā nivartate

Whoever recites that Rudra Samhita while circling a banyan or bilva tree is freed even from the sin of killing a brahmin.

Verse 37 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.37)

कैलाससंहिता तत्र ततोऽपि परमा स्मृता । ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणी साक्षात् प्रणवार्थप्रकाशिका

kailāsasaṁhitā tatra tato 'pi paramasmṛtā brahmasvarūpiṇī sākṣātpraṇavārthaprakāśikā

Among these, the Kailasa Samhita is held to be more supreme still; it is Brahman itself in form, illuminating the meaning of the sacred syllable Om.

Verse 38 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.38)

कैलाससंहितायास्तु माहात्म्यं वेत्ति शङ्करः । कृत्स्नं तदर्धं व्यासश्च तदर्धं वेद्म्यहं द्विजाः

kailāsasaṁhitāyāstu māhātmyaṁ vetti śaṁkaraḥ kṛtsnaṁ tadardhaṁ vyāsaśca tadardhaṁ vedmyahaṁ dvijāḥ

O brahmins, Shankara alone knows the full greatness of the Kailasa Samhita; Vyasa knows half of that, and I know half of what Vyasa knows.

Verse 39 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.39)

तत्र किञ्चित्प्रवक्ष्यामि कृत्स्नं वक्तुं न शक्यते । यज्ज्ञात्वा तत्क्षणाल्लोकश्चित्तशुद्धिमवाप्नुयात्

tatra kiṁcitpravakṣyāmi kṛtsnaṁ vaktuṁ na śakyate yajjñātvā tatkṣaṇāllokaścittaśuddhimavāpnuyāt

Of even that I shall tell a little, for the whole cannot be told — knowing which, a person's mind is purified in that very instant.

Verse 40 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.40)

न नाशयति यत्पापं सा रौद्री संहिता द्विजाः । तन्न पश्याम्यहं लोके मार्गमाणोऽपि सर्वदा

na nāśayati yatpāpaṁ sā raudrī saṁhitā dvijāḥ tanna paśyāmyahaṁ loke mārgamāṇo 'pi sarvadā

O brahmins, though I search always, I see nowhere in this world any sin that the Raudri Samhita fails to destroy.

Verse 41 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.41)

शिवेनोपनिषत्सिन्धुमन्थनोत्पादितां मुदा । कुमारायार्पितां तां वै सुधां पीत्वामरो भवेत्

śivenopaniṣatsiṁdhumanthanotpāditāṁ mudā kumārāyārpitāṁ tāṁ vai sudhāṁ pītvā 'maro bhavet

Churned in joy by Shiva from the ocean of the Upanishads, and given to Kumara — whoever drinks that nectar becomes immortal.

Verse 42 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.42)

ब्रह्महत्यादिपापानां निष्कृतिं कर्तुमुद्यतः । मासमात्रं संहितां तां पठित्वा मुच्यते ततः

brahmahatyādipāpānāṁ niṣkṛtiṁ kartumudyataḥ māsamātraṁ saṁhitāṁ tāṁ paṭhitvā mucyate tataḥ

One eager to atone for sins beginning with the killing of a brahmin is freed simply by reciting that Samhita for a single month.

Verse 43 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.43)

दुष्प्रतिग्रहदुर्भोज्यदुरालापादिसम्भवम् । पापं सकृत् कीर्तनेन संहिता सा विनाशयेत्

duṣpratigrahadurbhojyadurālāpādisaṁbhavam pāpaṁ sakṛtkīrtanena saṁhitā sā vināśayet

That Samhita destroys, by a single recitation, the sin arising from accepting an improper gift, eating improper food, or speaking improper words.

Verse 44 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.44)

शिवालये बिल्ववने संहितां तां पठेत् तु यः । स यत्फलमवाप्नोति तद्वाचोऽपि न गोचरे

śivālaye vilvavane saṁhitāṁ tāṁ paṭhettu yaḥ sa tatphalamavāpnoti yadvāco 'pi na gocare

Whoever recites that Samhita in a temple of Shiva or in a grove of bilva trees obtains a fruit beyond the reach even of speech.

Verse 45 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.45)

संहितां तां पठन् भक्त्या यः श्राद्धे भोजयेद् द्विजान् । तस्य ये पितरः सर्वे यान्ति शम्भोः परं पदम्

saṁhitāṁ tāṁ paṭhan bhaktyā yaḥ śrāddhe bhojayeddvijān tasya ye pitaraḥ sarve yāṁti śaṁbhoḥ paraṁ padam

Whoever, reading that Samhita with devotion, feeds brahmins in a shraddha rite, sends all his ancestors to the supreme abode of Shiva.

Verse 46 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.46)

चतुर्दश्यां निराहारो यः पठेत् संहितां च ताम् । बिल्वमूले शिवः साक्षात्स देवैश्च प्रपूज्यते

caturdaśyāṁ nirāhāro yaḥ paṭhetsaṁhitāṁ ca tām bilvamūle śivaḥ sākṣātsadevaiśca prapūjyate

Whoever fasts completely on the fourteenth and recites that Samhita is, through him, worshipping Shiva himself, together with the gods, at the foot of the bilva tree.

Verse 47 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.47)

अप्यन्याः संहितास्तत्र सर्वकामफलप्रदाः । उभे विशिष्टे विज्ञेये लीलाविज्ञानपूरिते

anyāpi saṁhitā tatra sarvakāmaphalapradā ubhe viśiṣṭe vijñeye līlāvijñānapūrite

There is yet another Samhita too, granting the fruit of every desire; both are to be known as distinguished, and full of the science of the divine play.

Verse 48 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.48)

तदिदं शैवमाख्यातं पुराणं वेदसम्मितम् । निर्मितं तच्छिवेनैव प्रथमं ब्रह्मसम्मितम्

tadidaṁ śaivamākhyātaṁ purāṇaṁ vedasaṁmitam nirmitaṁ tacchivenaiva prathamaṁ brahmasaṁmitam

Thus has been told this Shaiva Purana, of authority equal to the Veda; it was composed first by Shiva himself, in measure equal to the Brahma Purana.

Verse 49 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.49)

विद्येशं च तथा रौद्रं वैनायकमथौमिकम् । मात्रं रुद्रैकादशकं कैलासं शतरुद्रकम्

vidyeśaṁca tathāraudraṁ vaināyakamathaumikam mātraṁ rudraikādaśakaṁ kailāsaṁ śatarudrakam

the Vidyeshvara, the Raudra, the Vainayaka, and then the Auma [Uma], the Matri, the Rudraikadashaka, the Kailasa, the Shatarudraka,

Verse 50 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.50)

कोटिरुद्रसहस्राद्यं कोटिरुद्रं तथैव च । वायवीयं धर्मसंज्ञं पुराणमिति भेदतः

koṭirudrasahasrādyaṁ koṭirudraṁ tathaiva ca vāyavīyaṁ dharmasaṁjñaṁ purāṇamiti bhedataḥ

the Koṭirudra-sahasrādi, the Koṭirudra, and the Vāyavīya — thus this Purana, bearing the name of dharma, is divided into these distinct parts.

Verse 51 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.51)

संहिता द्वादशमिता महापुण्यतरा मताः । तासां सङ्ख्यां ब्रुवे विप्राः शृणुतादरतोऽखिलम्

saṁhitā dvādaśamitā mahāpuṇyatarā matā tāsāṁ saṁkhyāṁ bruve viprāḥ śṛṇutādaratokhilam

O brahmins, twelve Samhitas are reckoned in it, each of great merit; I shall now tell their number — hear it in full, with reverence.

Verse 52 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.52)

विद्येशं दशसाहस्रं रुद्रं वैनायकं तथा । औमं मातृपुराणाख्यं प्रत्येकाष्टसहस्रकम्

vidyeśaṁ daśāsāhasraṁ rudraṁ vaināyakaṁ tathā aumaṁ mātṛpurāṇākhyaṁ pratyekāṣṭasahasrakam

The Vidyeshvara Samhita has ten thousand verses; the Rudra and the Vainayaka, and the Auma and the Matri-purana Samhitas, have eight thousand each.

Verse 53 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.53)

त्रयोदशसहस्रं हि रुद्रैकादशकं द्विजाः । षट्सहस्रं च कैलासं शतरुद्रं तदर्धकम्

trayodaśasahasraṁ hi rudraikādaśakaṁ dvijāḥ ṣaṭsahasraṁ ca kailāsaṁ śatarudraṁ tadardhakam

O brahmins, the Rudraikadashaka Samhita has thirteen thousand verses; the Kailasa Samhita has six thousand, and the Shatarudra Samhita half of that.

Verse 54 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.54)

कोटिरुद्रं त्रिगुणितमेकादशसहस्रकम् । सहस्रकोटिरुद्राख्यमुदितं ग्रन्थसङ्ख्यया

koṭirudraṁ triguṇitamekādaśasahasrakam sahasrakoṭirudrākhyamuditaṁ graṁthasaṁkhyayā

The Koṭirudra Samhita is three times that — eleven thousand — and the Samhita called Koṭirudra-sahasra is thus told, by the count of its verses.

Verse 55 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.55)

वायवीयं खाब्धिशतं धर्मं रविसहस्रकम् । तदेवं लक्षसङ्ख्याकं शैवं सङ्ख्याविभेदतः

vāyavīyaṁ khābdhiśataṁ gharmaṁ ravisahasrakam tadevaṁ lakṣasaṁkhyākaṁ śaivasaṁkhyāvibhedataḥ

The Vayaviya Samhita numbers fourteen hundred and twelve thousand — thus, in all, the Shaiva Purana is reckoned at a hundred thousand verses, distributed among its several Samhitas.

Verse 56 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.56)

व्यासेन तत्तु सङ्क्षिप्तं चतुर्विंशत्सहस्रकम् । शैवं तत्र चतुर्थं वै पुराणं सप्तसंहितम्

vyāsena tattu saṁkṣiptaṁ caturviṁśatsahasrakam śaivaṁ tatra caturthaṁ vai purāṇaṁ saptasaṁhitam

Vyasa condensed that into twenty-four thousand verses; among the Puranas this Shaiva one is the fourth, and it comprises seven Samhitas.

Verse 57 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.57)

शिवेन कल्पितं पूर्वं पुराणं ग्रन्थसङ्ख्यया । शतकोटिप्रमाणं हि पुरा सृष्टौ सुविस्तृतम्

śive saṁkalpitaṁ pūrvaṁ purāṇaṁ granthasaṁkhyayā śatakoṭipramāṇaṁ hi purā sṛṣṭau suvismṛtam

At the beginning of creation, Shiva had first conceived this Purana at the measure of a hundred crore verses by its count, but that was forgotten as ages passed.

Verse 58 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.58)

व्यस्तेऽष्टादशधा चैव पुराणे द्वापरादिषु । चतुर्लक्षेण सङ्क्षिप्ते कृते द्वैपायनादिभिः

vyasteṣṭādaśadhā caiva purāṇe dvāparādiṣu caturlakṣeṇa saṁkṣipte kṛte dvaipāyanādibhiḥ

In the Dvapara and later ages it was divided eighteen-fold, and sages headed by Dvaipayana condensed it to four hundred thousand verses.

Verse 59 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.59)

प्रोक्तं शिवपुराणं हि चतुर्विंशत्सहस्रकम् । श्लोकानां सङ्ख्यया सप्तसंहितं ब्रह्मसम्मितम्

proktaṁ śivapurāṇaṁ hi caturviṁśatsahasrakam ślokānāṁ saṁkhyayā saptasaṁhitaṁ brahmasaṁmitam

Thus the Shiva Purana is told, at twenty-four thousand verses in number, comprising seven Samhitas, and of authority equal to the Veda.

Verse 60 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.60)

विद्येश्वराख्या तत्राद्या रौद्री ज्ञेया द्वितीयिका । तृतीया शतरुद्राख्या कोटिरुद्रा चतुर्थिका

vidyeśvarākhyā tatrādyā raudrī jñeyā dvitīyikā tṛtīyā śatarudrākhyā koṭirudrā caturthikā

Among these, the first is to be known as the Vidyeshvara, the second the Raudri, the third the Shatarudra, and the fourth the Koṭirudra.

Verse 61 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.61)

पञ्चमी चैवमौम्याख्या षष्ठी कैलाससंज्ञिका । सप्तमी वायवीयाख्या सप्तैवं संहिता मताः

pañcamī caiva maumākhyā ṣaṣṭhī kailāsasaṁjñikā saptamī vāyavīyākhyā saptaivaṁ saṁhitāmatāḥ

The fifth is called Mauma [Uma], the sixth Kailasa, and the seventh Vayaviya — thus these seven Samhitas are reckoned.

Verse 62 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.62)

ससप्तसंहितं दिव्यं पुराणं शिवसंज्ञकम् । वरीवर्ति ब्रह्मतुल्यं सर्वोपरिगतिप्रदम्

sasaptasaṁhitaṁ divyaṁ purāṇaṁ śivasaṁjñakam varīvarti brahmatulyaṁ sarvopari gatipradam

This divine Purana, called Shiva, comprising these seven Samhitas, moves in majesty equal to the Brahma Purana, standing above all others, granting the highest state.

Verse 63 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.63)

एतच्छिवपुराणं हि सप्तसंहितमादरात् । परिपूर्णं पठेद्यस्तु स जीवन्मुक्त उच्यते

etacchivapurāṇaṁ hi saptasaṁhitamādarāt paripūrṇaṁ paṭhedyastu sa jīvanmukta ucyate

Whoever reverently reads this entire Shiva Purana in its fullness, with all seven Samhitas, is said to attain liberation while yet living.

Verse 64 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.64)

श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणेतिहासागमशतानि च । एतच्छिवपुराणस्य नार्हन्त्यल्पां कलामपि

śrutismṛtipurāṇetihāsāgamaśatāni ca etacchivapurāṇasya nārhaṁtyalpāṁ kalāmapi

The Shrutis, the Smritis, the Puranas, the Itihasas, and hundreds of Agamas — all these together are not worth even a sixteenth part of this Shiva Purana.

Verse 65 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.65)

शैवं पुराणममलं शिवकीर्तितं तद् व्यासेन शैवप्रवणेन च सङ्गृहीतम् । सङ्क्षेपतः सकलजीवगुणोपकारं तापत्रयघ्नमतुलं शिवदं सतां हि

śaivaṁ purāṇamamalaṁ śivakīrtitaṁ tadvyāsena śaivapravaṇena na saṁgṛhītam saṁkṣepataḥ sakalajīvaguṇopakāre tāpatrayaghnamatulaṁ śivadaṁ satāṁ hi

This spotless Shaiva Purana, sung by Shiva himself, was gathered in brief by Vyasa, devoted to the Shaiva faith — for the benefit of the virtues of all beings, destroying the three kinds of suffering, unequalled, and bestowing well-being upon the righteous.

Verse 66 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.66)

विकैतवो धर्म इह प्रगीतो वेदान्तविज्ञानमयः प्रधानः । अमत्सरान्तर्बुधवेद्यवस्तु सत्क्लृप्तमन्त्रौघत्रिवर्गयुक्तम्

vikaitavo dharma iha pragīto vedāṁtavijñānamayaḥ pradhānaḥ amatsarāṁtarbudhavedyavastu satkḷptamatraiva trivargayuktam

Herein is sung the highest dharma, free of all pretense, filled with the wisdom of Vedanta and supreme above all; the true object, knowable by the envy-free and the wise, is well established here, joined with the threefold aim of dharma, artha and kama.

Verse 67 (shiva.vidyeshvara.2.67)

शैवं पुराणतिलकं खलु सत्पुराणं वेदान्तवेदविलसत्परवस्तुगीतम् । यो वै पठेच्च शृणुयात् परमादरेण शम्भुप्रियः स हि लभेत् परमां गतिं वै

śaivaṁ purāṇatilakaṁ khalu satpurāṇaṁ vedāṁtavedavilasatparavastugītam yo vai paṭhecca śṛṇuyātparamādareṇa śaṁbhupriyaḥ sa hi labhetparamāṁ gatiṁ vai

This Shaiva Purana is truly the crowning ornament among all true Puranas, in which the supreme reality illumined by Vedanta and the Veda is sung; whoever reads or hears it with the utmost reverence becomes dear to Shambhu and attains the highest state.